Writing implement



Dec.

1953 A. ZEPEQLL 3,112,734

WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed July 28, 1961 ego X 8 64 I 7 42 I 54 56 62 t.-46 56 4a H I .68 I I m L 72 'l INVENTOR.

. NATHAN ALTER ZEPELL nrramvsr Uited St This invention relates towriting implements and has special reference to a clip actuatedmechanism for use on a pocket carried instrument in which a writing unitassembly, or the like, is movable between exposed and concealedpositions.

More particularly, this invention relates to an actuating mechanism fora writing instrument of the type having a writing unit assembly movablelongitudinally betwee concealed and exposed positions, with a resilientelement urging the assembly toward the concealed position, the mechanismcomprisin a barrel having upper and lower aligned apertures in a sidewall thereof, a stop member Within the barrel to limit the rearwardmovement of the assembly when in the concealed position, clip meansincluding a substantially rigid arm disposed externally of the barrel,there being an integral mounting section formed adjacent the upper endof the arm and mo-vably disposed in the upper aperture to permitdisplacement of the lower end of the arm substantially transversely ofthe barrel between an inward position, a clipping position and adistended position. An inwardly directed contact member is formedadjacent the lower end of the arm, the contact member having an inclinedsurface operatively engaging the unit assembly through the loweraperture to reciprocate the assembly between the concealed and exposedpositions in response to movement of the lower end between the clippingand the inward positions, and an inwardly extending projection having aresilient leg diverging therefrom and releasably engaging the interiorof the side Wall of the barrel to yielda ly urge the lower end of thearm toward the clipping position from the distended position, the legbeing flexed toward the mounting section to permit movement thereofthrough said upper aperture during assembly and disassembly of thebarrel and the clip means.

in the usual writing implement, a pocket clip is provided for thepurpose of releasably attaching the instrument to a coat or shirtpocket, or the like, for carryin Such clips ordinarily include aresilient arm having mounting means on one end thereof and an inwardlydirected contact member, generally of a semi-spherical configuration, onthe ot er end. The mounting means may consist of a pair of deformableears, an annular ring, or the like, rigidly secured to the instrument insuch a manner that the contact member at the free end of the armnormally is urged toward and positioned against the body of theinstrument. The resilient arm, however, permits limited transversemovement of the Contact member in a direction away from the body toslidably receive therebetween the top edge of a coat or shirt pocket,While maintaining pressure on the pocket material during normal periodsof carrying.

it has been observed that after being used for a period of time, the armof the usual clip is subject to fracture or distortion. Such breakage ordistortion, or" course, is of definite inconvenience to the user becauseof the extra care necessitated in order to prevent subsequent loss ofthe instrument.

in order to overcome the above described problem, it has been proposedto utilize a substantially rigid clip arm in combination with aninternally mounted steel spring element adapted to permit movement ofthe arm for clipping purposes. And while certain of these arrangementses atnt have proven commercially practicable, the assembly of theseparate clip and spring parts not only increases manufacturing 'costsbut the retail price to the ultimate user.

Further, in the usual writing implement, the free end portion of thepocket clip projects a substantial distance from its outer surface,which characteristic is objectionable to many individuals as the clipmay irritate the hand after long periods of use. Such clips also mayinterfere with free rotatable movement of the implement during writing.Such movement is desirable when using certain types of writingimplements, particularly pencils or ball point pens, so as to insureeven wearing of the writing medium or tip.

In addition, the usual clip has only one function or purpose, that beingto hold the implement within a coat or shirt pocket. if the implementincludes an extensible writing unit, or the like, such as that in thepresent retractable ball point pen, separate means must be provided inorder to accomplish the desired reciprocal movement of the unit. Suchadditional mechanism not only complicates the construction of theimplement but further increases the cost of manufacture.

Accordingly, one object of this invention in the provision of a writinginstrument having a clip operated mechanism for efiecting movement of awriting unit assembly between concealed and Writing positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a writing instrumentincluding unitary clip means having an integral resilient section whichserves to retain the mechanism in an assembled relationship whileproviding the resiliency necessary for clipping of the instrument withina coat or shirt pocket, or the like.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a writinginstrument of the retractable type, wherein the operating mechanismincludes an unitary pocket clip, the arm portion thereof being movableto a substantially recessed position with respect to the surface of theimplement on which it is mounted upon conditioning the implement foruse.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a pen having areciprocal Writing unit and an operating mechanism comprising a pocketclip and a barrel, the clip including a leg portion which is flexible topermit assembly with the barrel and subsequent movement of the clip armfor clipping purposes.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a writinginstrument having a clip operated mechanism which is simple andinexpensive in construction and assembly, and dependable and convenientin operation without necessitating undue care or attention on the partof the user.

Further and additional objects of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description, when taken with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of a writing implementconstructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rearward portion of theembodiment of FIG. 1, showing a change in position of the clip andWriting unit assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the rearward portion of theembodiment of FIG. 1, showio the manner in which the clip and barrel areassembled and disassembled.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is illustrated awriting implement of the ball point type in which the barrel or holderit consists of a lower barrel portion 12 and an upper cap portion 14.These portions may be made of any one of a number of well known plasticor metal materials having the rigidity,

strength and surface wearing characteristics desired in a writinginstrument holder. Extending rearwardly of the lower barrel portion 12is a collar 16 which is threadedly engaged with the lower end of the capportion 14 in order to releasably secure the barrel portions in axial aignment.

Mounted within the barrel 1% is a writing point assembly 18. Theassembly 18 includes a generally cyli' drical reservoir 2d which isreduced in diameter adjacent its forward end to provide an intermediateshoulder 22. The forward reduced end of the reservoir 13 terminates in awriting point 26 of the ball point type. it will be understood, however,that other types of wring points or marking tips may be utilized in thisinvention.

The writing unit assembly is is longitudinally movable within thecentral bore '23 of the barrel 1% between a concealed position disposedentirely within the barrel and an exposed position in which the writingpoint 2 extends through the forward end 3% of the barrel l in writingposition.

A resilient element 32, such as a coil spring, is disposed between theshoulder 22 of the point assembly 13 and the shoul er 34 formed by thejunction of the central bore and open forward end 38. As will be wellunderstood by those in the art, the spring 32 is provided for thepurpose of urging the writing point assembly iii in a rearward directionrelative to the open forward end Extending rearwardly of the centralbore 2.3 is a reduced bore 3-6 of a diameter somewhat less than that ofthe generally cylindrical reservoir 29. The intersection of the bores2.3 and 35 thus provide a shoulder 3-3 against which the rearward end orupper end 46 of the writing assembly 18 abuts during such time as thepoint assembly 13 is in the above described concealed position. Suchabutment limits the rearward movement of the point assembly 18 for apurpose to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The cap portion 14- of the barrel it? is provided with an upper aperture42 and a lower aperture 44 which are axially aligned in the side wall ofthe cap 14. As will be noted, the upper aperture 42 preferably is formedadjacent the upper closed end of the barrel to, with the lower aperture44 being disposed forwardly thereof in the region of the stop member orshoulder 38. The aperture 44 extends longitudinally in both directionsfrom the shoulder 31? and, thus, the upper transverse end 4% of thereservoir 29 is positioned slightly below the upper edge of the aperture44 when in the concealed position.

Clip means as, mounted on the cap 14, serves not only for clipping thewriting implement to a coat or shirt pocket, but to effect extension ormovement of the writing point assembly 18 between the concealed andexposed positions. Included as a part of the clip means is asubstantially rigid arm 43 disposed externally of the barrel 1%. The armpreferably may be stamped from a sheet of flat metal, such as steel orspring brass, and formed inthe usual manner with a center portion 553and co-extensive ide flanges 52. Adjacent the upper end of the arm 4-8,the side flanges 52 are formed as an integral mounting section defininggenerally paralle wall portions 54 sized to be movably received withinupper aperture 42. The forward edge of the wall portions are formed withgenerally longitudinally extending surfaces or offsets 55 which abut theouter surface of the cap 14 immediately below the lower edge of theaperture 42.

The offsets 55 thus limit inward movement of the mounting section of theclip means 46 relative to the aperture 42.

As pointed out hereinabove, the usual carrying clip is provided with apair of deformable ears, a ring-like section, or the like, which notonly are time consuming and expensive in construction and assembly, butseverely complicate subsequent servicing of the clip should it break orotherwise become unsatisfactory. Such assembly and in more detailherebelow.

subsequent servicing robiems and expenses are corpletely eliminated bythe present invention, wherein the clip means 46 is maintained in anassembled relationship with the cap 14 by an inexpensive and simpleextension of the center portion 5b of the arm 48.

As can be determined readily from the drawing, the center portion 5% isformed to provide a transverse section 5'8 at the upper end of the wallportions 54, and a longitudinal portion 69 extending to a positionspaced a short distance from the lower edge of the aperture 42. Fromlongitudinal portion 69, a projection 62 extends inwardly substantiallytransverse of the cap 14. The projection 62 is of a substantially Vshape, having flexible legs 64 and 6%. The leg 66 diverges forwardlyfrom the mounting section of the clip means as and releasably engagesthe interior wall of the cap 14 forwardly of the upper aperture 42, asbest seen in FIG. 1. it will be understood by those in the art that thelegs 64 and 66, and particularly leg as, will flex upon distension ofthe forward end of the ar 1 43 in a direction away from the cap 1 topermit iuser of the edge of a coat or shirt pocket between the clip armand the cap for carrying purposes. Such flexure, of course, willyieldably urge the lower end of the clip arm toward the cap 14 from whatmight be considered a distended position, preparatory to clipping theimplement to a pocket, to the actual clipping position.

is can best be seen in FIG. 3, the leg 66 is flexed toward the mountingsection during assembly of the barrel and clip means do by virtue ofsliding engagement with the lower edge of the upper aperture 42. The leg65 is proportioned so as to clear the lower edge of the aperture 42simultaneously with engagement between the offsets S5 and the outersurface of the cap 1 when the clip arm is pushed to an inward positionto be described Thus, the resilient leg 66 is permitted to assume itsdivergent position as shown best in H6. 1 to hold the clip meansassembled with the barrel.

Should it subsequently be necessary to remove the clip means 46 from thebarrel 16, for any purpose, such removal can be eifected very readily bymoving the cli arm 48 to the inward position and inserting an elongaterod or tool within the cap 14 to flex the leg 66 upwardly into aposition substantially in juxtaposition with leg 64. The clip means maythen be removed from the implement merely by manually pulling outwardlyon its upper end.

FIG. 3 of the drawing illustrates the positioning of the various partsduring assembly and disassembly of the barrel it and clip means 46.

Disposed adjacent the lower end of the clip arm 48 is a contact memberas which is included as an integral part of the arm e8 by suitablyforming an extension of the center portion 59 and flanges 52 to providea surface 70 inclined toward the forward end of the implement.

It is understood that, throughout this specification and the appendedclaims, the forward end designates the end which is disposed toward thewriting surface when the implement is held in a normal writing position.

As will be obvious from FIGS. 1 and 2, the contact member 68 is disposedfor movement through the lower aperture 44 to provide engagement betweenthe inclined surface and a transverse surface provided on the reservoir2%, such as the upper edge 49 during movement of the arm 48 between theclipping and inward positions. The lower end of the inclined surface 7 0terminates in a contiguous locking oflset 72 which is engageable withthe rearward end 49, or some other equivalent surface provided on thereservoir 2% The arm 4% is movable relative to the barrel it between thepositions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the distended positiondescribed heretofore. In FIG. 1, the arm is disposed in an outwardclipping position, with a majority of the contact member 68 beingexposed. When in this position, the forward end of the arm may bedisplaced transversely toward the axis of the barrel 19, which movementcauses the contact member 68 to move through aperture 44, resulting insliding engagement between the inclined surface 76 and the rearward end40 to force the writing unit assembly 18 forwardly against the pressureor" the spring element 32. Terminal inward movement of the lower end ofthe arm results in abutting engagement between the locking ofifset 72and the rearward end of the writing assembly 13 whereby the assembly ismaintained in the forward position for use during writing.

When the user wishes to return the unit to the retracted or concealedposition, it is necessary merely to press manually on the arm 48 abovethe offsets 56 adjacent its upper end. Such pressure moves the lower endoutwardly a distance suficient to cause disengagement of the lockingoffset 72 and the rearward end ll of the writing assembly 1-3. e spring32 will then cause the unit to retract to the concealed positionabutting the shoulder 38 and conjoint movement of the lower end of theclip arm 43 outwardly to the above described clipping position.

The stop member or shoulder 38 positions the rearward edge 48 of thewriting assembly 18 slightly forwardly of the upper terminal edge of theinclined surface 70.

It is desirable to provide an elongated flattened area or recess 74 onthe outer wall of the cap 14 co-extensive with the clip arm 43. Byproviding a flattened area of this type, it is possible to position theouter surface of the clip arm 48 flush with the adjacent outer surfaceof the cap 14 when in the inward writing position. And, in addition,when the clip arm 48 is in the outer position, convenient insertion intoa pocket is provided since the contact member 63 is exposed to a maximumextent.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the presentinvention provides a mechanism which may be manufactured readily andinexpensively, but which is quite rugged and dependable in operation.Further, it will be evident that the mechanism may be utilized withvarious types of implements such as the illustrated ball point assembly,a retractable fountain pen, a scribing tool or other types or" markinginstruments in which it is desirable to reciprocate the point between awriting position and a concealed storage position. It will beunderstood, therefore, that the invention is not to be limited to theembodiment described above, and it is contemplated by the appendedclaims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An actuating mechanism for a writing instrument comprising a barrelhaving an open forward end, a reduced stop member formed internally ofsaid barrel in a spaced relation with said open end, a writing unitassembly having a forwardly projecting writing tip and a rearwardiyfacing surface defining a contact edge, said writing unit assembly beingarranged for longitudinal reciprocal movement within said barrel betweena forward tip exposed position and a tip concealed position wherein saidcontact edge abuts said stop member, said barrel including upper andlower aligned apertures formed in a side wall thereof, said loweraperture being disposed inthe region of said stop member to expose saidcontact edge, clip means including a substantially rigid arm disposedexternally of said barrel, a mounting section formed adjacent the upperend of said arm, said section being movably disposed in said up eraperture to permit displacement of the lower end of said armsubstantially transersely of said barrel between an inward position, aclipping position, vand a distended position, an inwardly directedcontact member formed integral with and adjacent said lower end, saidcontact member defining a surface inclined toward said fordward end andprovided with a contiguous locking otl'set at its lower end, saidinclined surface and said locking oil-set successively engaging saidexposed contact edge through said lower aperture to move said assemblyto and releasably hold said assembly in said tip exposed position inresponse to movement of said lower end from said clipping to said inwardposition, and a projection extending inwardly of said barrel from saidmounting portion, said projection including a resilient leg portionnormally engageable with the interior or" said side wall intermediatesaid apertures to maintain said clip means and said barrel in anassembled relationship and to urge said lower end yieldably toward saidclipping position from said distended position, said leg being flexiblefor movement into transverse alignment with said mounting section uponpositioning said lower end in said inward position thereby permittingpassage of said section and said projection through said upper apertureduring assembly and disassembly of said barrel and said clip means.

2. An actuating mechanism for a writing instrument comprising a barrelhaving an open forward end, a reduced stop member formed internally ofsaid barrel in a spaced relation with said open end, a writing unitassembly having a forwardly projecting writing tip and a generallycylindrical reservoir section terminating in a rearwardly facing endsurface defining a circular contact edge, said writing unit assemblybeing arranged for iongitudinal reciprocal movement within said barrelbetween a forward tip exposed position and a rearward tip concealedposition wherein said contact edge abuts said stop member, said barrelincluding upper and lower aligned apertures formed in a side wallthereof, said lower aperture being disposed in the region of and forminga discontinuity in said stop member to expose said contact edge, clipmeans including a substantially rigid arm disposed externally of saidbarrel, said arm extending longitudinally of said barrel and overlyingsaid apertures, a mounting section formed integral with and adjacent theupper end of said arm, said section being releasably and movablyretained in said upper aperture to permit displacement of the lower endof said arm substantially transversely of said barrel between an inwardposition, a clipping position, and a distended position spaced from saidbarrel, an inwardly directed contact member formed integral with andadjacent said lower end, said contact member defining a cam surfaceinclined toward said forward end and provided with a contiguous lockingoffset at its lower end, said inclined surface and said locking oiisetsuccessively engaging said exposed contact edge through said loweraperture to move said assembly to and releasably hold said assembly insaid tip exposed position in response to movement of said lower end fromsaid clipping to said inward position, and a projection extendinginwardly of said barrel from said mounting portion, said projectionincluding a divergent resilient leg portion having a free end normallyengageable with the interior of said side wall intermediate saidapertures to maintain said clip means and said barrel in an assembledrelationship and to urge said lower end yieldably toward said clippingposition from said distended position, said leg being flexible formovement of said free end into transverse alignment with said mountingsection upon positioning said lower end in said inward position therebypermitting passage of said section and said projection through saidupper aperture during assembly and disassembly of said barrel and saidclip means.

3. An actuating mechanism for a writing instrument comprising a barrelhaving an open forward end, said barrel including a removable capportion, a reduced stop member formed internally or" said cap in aspaced relation with said open end, a writing unit assembly having aforwardly projecting writing tip and a generally cylindrical reservoirsection terminating in a rearwardly facing end surface defining acircular contact edge, said writing unit assembly being arranged forlongitudinal reciprocal movement within said barrel between a forwardtip exposed position and a tip concealed position wherein said contactedge abuts said stop member, said cap including upper and lower alignedapertures formed in a side wall thereof, said lower aperture beingdisposed in the region of and forming a discontinuity in said stopmember to expose said contact edge, clip means including a substantiallyrigid arm disposed externally of said cap, said arm including a centerportion extending longitudinally or" said cap and overlying saidapertures, a mounting section formed adjacent the upper end of said armand including an upper extension of said center portion, asid sectionbeing releasably and movably retained in said upper aperture to permitdisplacement of the lower end of said arm substantially transversely ofsaid cap between an inward position, a clipping position, and adistended position, an inwardly directed contact member formed adjacentsaid lower end by a lower extension of said center position, saidcontact member defining a cam surface inclined toward said forward endand provided with a contiguous locking offset at its lower end, saidinclined surface and said locking offset successively engaging saidexposed contact edge through said lower aperture to move said assemblyto and releasably hold said assembly in said tip exposed position inresponse to movement of said lower end from said clipping to said inwardposition, and a substantially V shaped projection formed within said capby said upper extension, said projection in- 8 ciuding a first legdisposed transversely of said mounting section and a second legdiverging from said first leg, said second leg having a free endnormally engageable with the interior of said side wall intermediatesaid apertures to maintain said clip means and said barrel in anassembled relationship and to urge said lower end yieldably toward saidclipping position from said distended position, said second leg beingflexible for movement into juxtaposition with said first leg uponpositioning said lower end in said inward position thereby permittingpassage of said section and said projection through said upper apertureduring assembly and disassembly of said barrel and said clip means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS249,230 Doyle Nov. 8, 1881 2,813,511 Kersten Nov. 19, 1957 20 2,881,736Zepelovitch Apr. 14, 1959 2,988,055 Flatt June 13, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS883,103 France Mar. 15, 1943 25 1,041,399 France May 27, 1953 1,086,929France Aug. 18, 1954

1. AN ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR A WRITING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A BARRELHAVING AN OPEN FORWARD END, A REDUCED STOP MEMBER FORMED INTERNALLY OFSAID BARREL IN A SPACED RELATION WITH SAID OPEN END, A WRITING UNITASSEMBLY HAVING A FORWARDLY PROJECTING WRITING TIP AND A REARWARDLYFACING SURFACE DEFINING A CONTACT EDGE, SAID WRITING UNIT ASSEMBLY BEINGARRANGED FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID BARREL BETWEENA FORWARD TIP EXPOSED POSITION AND A TIP CONCEALED POSITION WHEREIN SAIDCONTACT EDGE ABUTS SAID STOP MEMBER, SAID BARREL INCLUDING UPPER ANDLOWER ALIGNED APERTURES FORMED IN A SIDE WALL THEREOF, SAID LOWERAPERTURE BEING DISPOSED IN THE REGION OF SAID STOP MEMBER TO EXPOSE SAIDCONTACT EDGE, CLIP MEANS INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID ARM DISPOSEDEXTERNALLY OF SAID BARREL, A MOUNTING SECTION FORMED ADJACENT THE UPPEREND OF SAID ARM, SAID SECTION BEING MOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID UPPERAPERTURE TO PERMIT DISPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER END OF SAID ARMSUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BARREL BETWEEN AN INWARD POSITION, ACLIPPING POSITION, AND A DISTENDED POSITION, AN INWARDLY DIRECTEDCONTACT MEMBER FORMED INTEGRAL WITH AND ADJACENT SAID LOWER END, SAIDCONTACT MEMBER DEFINING A SUR-